Customs Leads Community Transformation as School Renovation Sparks Joy in Maigatari LGA
Author: Muhammad Bashir.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, 26 February 2026, reinforced its commitment to national development beyond enforcement duties by commissioning a fully renovated educational facility in Jigawa State, drawing widespread celebration from residents, officials, and traditional leaders.
The “Customs Cares” initiative has breathed new life into the historic Alhassan Primary School, transforming the 51-year-old institution into a modern hub for learning. This comprehensive CSR project delivered upgraded classrooms, solar-powered water systems, and improved sanitation for over 2,000 students.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the initiative as evidence of the Service’s evolving institutional philosophy that combines statutory responsibilities with human-centred development.
“This is more than the unveiling of infrastructure; it is a demonstration that national institutions can serve through enforcement and compassion simultaneously,” he said, stressing that investment in education directly strengthens Nigeria’s intellectual capital and long-term security.
According to him, the Customs Cares initiative, the Service’s structured social investment platform, focuses on six pillars: education, healthcare, social investment, environmental sustainability, food security, and creative-economy support. He added that strengthening border communities promotes peace and cooperation, which is critical to national stability.
The Governor of Jigawa state, Umar Namadi, represented by the Commissioner of Health, Isah Chamo, and the Commissioner of Commerce, Aminu Kanta, praised the Service for aligning security mandates with grassroots development, noting that strategic partnerships between federal institutions and states remain vital to revitalising public education infrastructure.
The Zonal Coordinator, Zone B Assistant Comptroller-General Nsikan Umoh, said the intervention reflects Customs’ institutional shift toward responsible corporate citizenship, explaining that communities that feel supported become dependable partners in safeguarding national interests.
Also speaking, the Acting Customs Area Controller for the Kano/Jigawa Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, emphasised Maigatari’s strategic importance as a border gateway linking Nigeria with the Niger Republic, noting that community trust directly enhances operational effectiveness.
Traditional institutions equally endorsed the initiative. The Emir of Gumel, Ahmad Muhammad Sani II, commended the Service for fostering peace through development and pledged continued cooperation between border communities and Customs authorities.
The commissioning ceremony concluded with the distribution of school bags, exercise books, writing materials, and sports kits to pupils. This gesture drew applause from parents and residents and underscored the Nigeria Customs Service’s expanding role as both a security institution and a driver of social progress.
